Jets’ glaring wide receiver weakness only growing more concerning

The Jets’ quest to establish a viable No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson will spill into its third week Sunday against the Buccaneers. 

The rest of the team’s wideouts have totaled just five receptions through the Jets’ 0-2 start. 

With veteran Josh Reynolds ruled out for a second straight game with a hamstring issue, the opportunities — and the necessity — for someone else to emerge as a pass-catching alternative to Wilson for veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor will be prominent in Tampa for players such as Tyler Johnson, Allen Lazard and rookie Arian Smith. 

“We got Josh down, so I’m probably going to have to play a little more to help [Wilson] and the other guys, Tyler and Lazard, and help take some stress off them,” said Smith, the Jets’ fourth-round pick out of Georgia. “I’m ready to go out there and compete and do my thing. 

“We know we have to make a bigger impact. We have to help Garrett. He’s one of the best players on this team, but he’s not Superman. He needs help and we need to take some of the stress off him. We need to step up and do better with blocking and just contribute, whether it’s run or pass. I think we will do a better job this week and we’re excited to have another opportunity.” 

Smith, who grew up about 45 minutes outside of Tampa, has just one catch for eight yards on two targets through his first two NFL games.

He also had an opportunity to run a reverse that got blown up in the backfield for a 10-yard loss in the first quarter in a 30-10 loss Sunday against the Bills, but the rookie said he was “excited that they called my number in that spot.” 

Johnson was signed to a one-year deal worth $1.17 million as a free agent after spending the past two seasons with the Rams.

But he also has contributed negligible production with two receptions on three targets in his first two appearances with the Jets. 

“Whenever any of our numbers are called, you have to go out there and make a play,” Johnson said. “We have to go out there and play our brand of football, things we’ve been working on since training camp, we got to allow that to come back to life. 

“We got to hit that reset button, and I’m looking forward to going out there Sunday and getting it done.” 

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The 29-year-old Lazard was inactive for a Week 1 loss to longtime Packers and Jets teammate Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.

Against the Bills, Lazard dressed but played just 22 snaps (12 running plays) with zero targets. 

“We have to keep doing what we can to be effective in the run game and that naturally will open up the pass game,” Lazard said. “This is football. You can draw up plays and say it’s going to go to this person but somehow it ends up going to someone else. 

“It’s an imperfect game from that standpoint, but when our opportunity comes, as far as the other guys in the room, we just got to make sure we’re where we’re supposed to be to make plays.” 

Taylor, a 15-year NFL veteran with seven teams, will get the start Sunday in place of injured starter Justin Fields (concussion), but Lazard believes the difference is “nothing too crazy” between the two quarterbacks.

Johnson also stressed there is “not much difference” between the QBs. 

“Obviously having Tyrod here last year [as Rodgers’ backup], there’s a bit of comfortability within the offense and familiarity just with the way he goes about his business,” Lazard said. “The reason he’s still here at 36 years old is because he does his s–t the right way. 

“It’s very infectious for people in the locker room to see how he works and how he prepares every single week. How he handles the scout team or how he handles reps with the 1s, there’s no dropoff, no difference. He’s a true pro.” 

Wilson, who signed a $130 million contract extension in July, has totaled 11 receptions for 145 yards on 17 targets entering Week 3.

That’s more than twice as many catches and targets as the rest of the wide receivers combined.